Picpoul de Pinet...The Wine that "Stings the Lips"
Updated: Sep 30, 2021
Happy Wine Wednesday, Corkers...and happy Wine of the Week Day!
I love doing these features because they help me explore new varietals on a regular basis. Sometimes you just need that little push to get out of your comfort zone, you know??
My hope is that you will sample these wines with me so we can learn about them together!
So what's up with the title of this blog? Well, today we're talking about (and tasting!) Picpoul de Pinet, which literally translates to "stings the lips." This bad boy is naturally acidic, which means you'll get that lip puckering, crunchy, crisp sensation on the palate...one of the reasons I can't wait to try it!
Haven't heard of this snappy little grape before? You're not alone. In fact, this is a relatively rare varietal, growing in just less than 4,000 world vineyard acres in the Rhone Valley of France (the Languedoc-Roussillon region) and very minimally in Spain and the US (compare this to Pinot Noir, which is growing in approximately 245,000 world vineyard acres.) That being said, this particular wine is gaining popularity, especially in the UK where an estimated 1.6 million bottles are sold annually. I guess the unique flavor profile and low-volume production make this shining star a bit of a novelty...like a Halfsies Cookie.
Yea, that's right. Picpoul de Pinet is like a Halfsies cookie: desired by all but not enough to go around! (By the way, if you haven't tried a Halfsies cookie, you NEED to! A couple in New York makes them fresh every day and they go on sale at 11:00am CST SHARP. You need to set an alarm and use Apple Pay to snag a pack though because they sell out faster than you can say "I want a Halfsies cookie." )
If you want to try them out, here's a link to get 15 % off your order (you can thank me later):
Anyways, back to Picpoul; my favorite fact about it...the bottle it comes in is called a Neptune. It is always green with three symbols on the glass: the waves of the sea around the neck, the cross of its home in the Languedoc-Roussillon region of France on the front, and a series of dots along the base of the bottle, paying homage to Roman Doric columns. If your bottle has all of these characteristics, you know it's authentic!
Tune in to my IG stories today where I'll sample this lip-stinging star for the first time. If you want to try it with me, you can find this same bottle at Total Wine in the Rhone Valley section for less than $15. So what are you waiting for ? Pick up a bottle and meet me @thecandidcork. Cheers, Corkers!
Until next time-
Jane Marie